Device for fastening a first part to a second part

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for fastening a first part to a stationary second part of a vehicle, the first part being releasably connected with the second part via a fastening means connected with the first part, the fastening means comprising a fastening element that is adapted to be actuated from a side of a basic body of the fastening means facing away from the second part, that is held at the basic body so as to be secured against being lost, and that is connected with a locking element arranged on the side of the basic body facing the second part, the locking element, by actuating the fastening element, being adapted to be turned about a rotational axis into a locked position in which the first part is non-positively held at the second part, wherein, on a side of the locking element facing the basic body, a pressure element is arranged that is supported on the basic body in the direction of the rotational axis of the locking element while being biased, on the one hand, and so as to be displaceable with respect to the fastening element and the basic body, on the other hand, and that the fastening element and/or the locking element are biased by a torsion spring with respect to the basic body in such a manner that the locking element is automatically turned into a partially locked position jamming the first part with the second part after an oppositely directed relative movement of the pressure element with respect to the locking element in the direction of the rotational axis.

[0001] The invention relates to a device for fastening a first part to a stationary second part of a vehicle, the first part being releasably connected with the second part via a fastening means connected with the first part, the fastening means comprising a fastening element that is adapted to be actuated from a side of a basic body of the fastening means facing away from the second part, that is held at the basic body so as to be secured against being lost, and that is connected with a locking element arranged on the side of the basic body facing the second part, the locking element, by actuating the fastening element, being adapted to be turned about a rotational axis into a locked position in which the first part is non-positively held at the second part.

[0002] From DE 199 00 267 A1, a device for fastening a first part to a stationary second part of an aircraft is known where the first part is releasably connectable with the second part via a fastening means. The first part may be configured as an airplane panel adapted to be mounted to a second part configured as a C-shaped profile. The fastening means comprises a basic body with a guide bore wherein a fastening element adapted to be actuated by turning is supported. On a side of the basic body facing the second part, the fastening element is connected with a locking element. Locking is effected by axially pressing the fastening element, which is biased with respect to the basic body by means of a spring, in the direction of the second part oppositely to the spring force so that the locking element is raised with respect to the abutting surface of the basic body. By turning the fastening element, a turning of the locking element can be effected now so that the latter is able to be brought into a partially locked position or locked position in which the fastening means and the first part connected with the fastening means, respectively, are clampingly connected with the second part.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known device is that during assembly, the locking element is completely covered by the basic body so that the assembler cannot directly perceive the position of the locking element. The only possibility left to him is to indirectly infer the position of the locking element from the rotational position of the fastening element. This is relatively difficult if the fastening element is configured as a recessed head screw.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to develop a device for fastening a first part to a stationary second part of a vehicle in such a manner that the fastening of the first part to the second part is simplified.

[0005] In order to solve this object, the invention, in connection with the preamble of the claim, is characterized in that on a side of the locking element facing the basic body, a pressure element is arranged that is supported on the basic body in the direction of the rotational axes of the locking element while being biased, on the one hand, and so as to be displaceable with respect to the fastening element and the basic body, and that the fastening element and/or the locking element are biased by a torsion spring with respect to the basic body in such a manner that the locking element is automatically turned into a partially locked position jamming the first part with the second part after an oppositely directed relative movement of the pressure element with respect to the locking element in the direction of the rotational axis.

[0006] The particular advantage of the invention consists in that the locking element is able to be automatically brought into a partially locked position in a simple manner due to the relative displaceability of the pressure element with respect to the basic body, on the one hand, and the provision of a spring with a direction of action in rotational direction of the locking element, on the other hand. By moving apart the pressure element and the locking element in the direction of the rotational axis of the locking element, the locking element biased in rotational direction is released so that it is automatically moved into a locking transverse position. Advantageously, only a pressure movement in the direction of the rotational axis effects a turning of the locking element into a partially locked position.

[0007] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the torsion spring is configured as a helical spring biased about the rotational axis and having the additional function of keeping the fastening element biased with respect to the basic body. Thereby, the fastening element is kept safely in the partially locked position.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, the pressure element is supported by a spring with respect to an inner wall of the basic body. Thereby, a displaceability is guaranteed in a simple manner, the pressure element being able to be brought into an initial position, in cooperation with a stop, in a simple manner.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one signal element projects from the pressure element in the direction of a side of the basic body facing away from the second part, so that, after the fastening means has been set to the second part, it can be signaled to the assembler if the locking element is already in its partially locked position. Thus, the assembler is not dependent on inferring the turning position of the locking element from the rotational position of the fastening element.

[0010] Further advantages of the invention result from the further subclaims.

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is explained in detail with respect to the drawings.

[0012] In the drawings:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a fastening means for fastening a first part to a non-illustrated second stationary part, the fastening means being coupled with the first part via a spring element,

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a basic body of the fastening means, the first part being supported, in a hinge-like manner, on the spring element at an end thereof facing away from the basic body,

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the basic body, a locking element being in an initial position,

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the basic body, the locking element being in an initial position according to a continuous line and in a partially locked position according to a broken line, and

[0017]FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the first part, the spring element and the fastening means,respectively, being adapted to be pivoted into two relative positions to the first part.

[0018] A first part 10 connected with a spring element 1 of the fastening means by means of a hinge 23 can be configured, for example, as an airplane panel or as a functional panel. Such an airplane panel may have several openings for receiving lighting units and air nozzles, respectively.

[0019] By means of the fastening means, the first part is connnectable with a second part 2 configured as a stationary C-shaped profile rail and extending in longitudinal direction of the airplane fuselage while forming a slot.

[0020] Substantially, the fastening means consists of a parallelepiped-shaped basic body 3, a fastening element 5 supported in a guide bore 4 of the basic body 3, an end stop 6 disposed at the end of the fastening element 5 facing the second part 2, a locking element 7 and a pressure element 8.

[0021] The fastening element 5 is configured as a fastening screw comprising a shank 12 and a head 9 on a side facing away from the second part 2. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the second part 2 comprises a slot pointing vertically downward so that the first part is to be mounted to the second part by means of an overhead assembly. The head 9, for example, is configured such that the fastening screw 5 can be actuated by a screw driver. In FIG. 5, the relative position of the basic body 3 to the first part 10 is illustrated in two different pivot positions. With an abutting surface 11, the spring element 1 abuts on a side of the basic body 3 facing the second part.

[0022] The locking element 7 is disposed in an end portion of the fastening screw 5, which faces the second part 2. It has the shape of a parallelogram and is in threaded engagement with a shank 12 of the fastening screw 5. In an initial or disengaged position of the fastening means, the locking element 7 engages on the end stop 6 from the inside. By turning the fastening screw 5, the locking element 7 being held in a position so as to be secured against rotation by stops not illustrated, the locking element 7 moves away from the end stop 6 fixedly connected with the fastening screw 5 until a non-positive connection between the basic body 3 and the second part 2 is achieved.

[0023] Between the head 9 of the fastening screw 5 and the locking element 7, a torsion spring 13 is arranged which is configured as a helical spring biased about a rotational axis 14. An end 15 of the torsion spring 13 facing the second part 2 is biased with the locking element 7, so that an automatic turning of the locking element 7 by a predetermined turning distance into a partially locked position is effected by clearing the locking element 7 with respect to the pressure element 8. The turning distance may amount to about 90° so that the locking element 7 is arranged in a transverse position covering the legs of the profile 2.

[0024] The pressure element 8 extends in a plate-like manner on a side of the basic body 3 facing the second part 2, having a recess in the central portion in which the locking element 7 is supported in its initial position. Via two springs (helical springs) 16, the pressure element 8 is supported on an inner wall 17 of the basic body 3. The pressure element 8 itself is located in a recess of the basic body 3 so that, while being biased, it is supported in the direction of the rotational axis 14 so as to be movable and displaceable with respect to the basic body 3, respectively.

[0025] In order to bring the fastening means into a partially locked position, the basic body of the second part 2 in accordance with FIG. 2 the locking element 7 is arranged within the second part 2. Raising the locking element 7 from the pressure element 8 is effected by moving the pressure element 8 oppositely to the direction of movement of the basic body 3 relative to the locking element 7. When the locking element has been removed from the recess of the pressure element 8, the torsion spring 13 effects the turning of the locking element 7 by a predetermined turning distance into the partially locked position. Now, the basic body 13 is clampingly connected with the second part 2 so that it is prevented from falling out of it.

[0026] By actuating the fastening screw 5, the basic body 3 can now be brought into a finally locked position, while it is non-positively connected with the second part 2.

[0027] Each of the springs 16 has signal elements 18 allocated thereto which project from the pressure element 8 in the direction of the inner wall 17. The signal elements 18 are configured as signal pins and have such a length that a free end 19 of the signal element 18 passes through a bore 20 of the inner wall 17 of the basic body 3 and projects from the basic body 3 after the pressure element 8 has been moved from the disengaged position into the partially locked position. Thereby, it is signaled to the assembler in a simple manner that the basic body 3 is in the partially locked position. To facilitate the detection of the signal pins 18, they are preferably colored and configured in contrast to the color of the basic body 3.

[0028] The pressure element 8 comprises stops 22 respectively allocated to pointed surfaces 21 of the locking element 7, so that a longitudinal position of the locking element 7 is forced when the basic body 3 is brought from a locked position into a disengaged position. By turning the locking element 7 back further by actuating the fastening screw 5, the locking element 7 can now be inserted into the recess of the pressure element 8. 

1. A device for fastening a first part to a stationary second part of a vehicle, the first part being releasably connected with the second part via a fastening means connected with the first part, the fastening means comprising a fastening element that is adapted to be actuated from a side of a basic body of the fastening means facing away from the second part, that is held at the basic body so as to be secured against being lost, and that is connected with a locking element arranged on the side of the basic body facing the second part, the locking element, by actuating the fastening element, being adapted to be turned about a rotational axis into a locked position in which the first part is non-positively held at the second part, characterized in that on a side of the locking element (7) facing the basic body (3), a pressure element (8) is arranged that is supported on the basic body (3) in the direction of the rotational axis of the locking element (7) while being biased, on the one hand, and so as to be displaceable with respect to the fastening element (5) and the basic body (3), on the other hand, and that the fastening element (5) and/or the locking element (3) are biased by a torsion spring (13) with respect to the basic body (3) in such a manner that the locking element (7) is automatically turned into a partially locked position jamming the first part (10) with the second part (2) after an oppositely directed relative movement of the pressure element (8) with respect to the locking element (7) in the direction of the rotational axis (14).
 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the torsion spring (13) is configured as a helical spring biased about the rotational axis (14), which extends between the locking element (7) and an abutting surface (9) of the fastening element.
 3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the torsion spring (13), with one end (15), is retained on the locking element (7) and/or the fastening element (5) so as to be biased in rotational direction of the locking element (7).
 4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure element (8) is supported on an inner wall (17) of the basic body (3) by at least one spring (16).
 5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one signal element (18) projects from the pressure element (8), which is visible on a side of the basic body (3) facing away from the second part (2) after the pressure element (8) has been displaced relative to the basic body (3).
 6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the signal element (18) is configured as a signal pin extending along the spring (16).
 7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the signal pin (18) is marked by a color differing from that of the basic body (3).
 8. The device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pressure element (8) comprises a recess on a side facing the locking element (7), in which recess the locking element (7) is arranged in the initial position, and that the pressure element (8) a raised stop (22) upon disengaging is automatically guided into the recess.
 9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first part (10) is pivotally connected with the basic body (3) via a C-shaped spring element (1).
 10. The device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the pressure element (8) substantially completely covers the side of the basic body (3) facing the second part (2). 